Written Answers Thursday 17 July 2008

Scottish Executive

2014 Commonwealth Games

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits it expects that the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games will bring to Tayside.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government has a very clear commitment to ensuring that the whole of Scotland benefits and has a lasting legacy from the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

  We want to maximise opportunities such as ensuring Scottish businesses are well-placed to bid for contracts arising from the games, that visitors to the games are encouraged to travel to other parts of the country, and that youngsters everywhere are inspired to take up sport.

  Our aim is to have a detailed Games Legacy Plan published by summer 2009 which will make clear what we aim to achieve and by when. The content of that Legacy Plan will be informed by the analysis and consideration of the responses to our Consultation Paper, Glasgow 2014: Delivering a Lasting Legacy to Scotland, the responses to the Young Scot consultation on games legacy and the feedback from our series of public meetings, including one held in Perth on 2 June, that we are conducting across the country from May to July.

Agriculture

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of the rising cost of fertiliser on the farming industry and food production.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Agricultural College has recently produced a report for the Scottish Government assessing the impact of rising input costs (including fertiliser costs) on the farming industry. It found that although the rise in fertiliser prices has increased the cost of production, the impact of increasing costs has been largely offset by rising market prices.

Children and Young People

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to ensure that case files for children identified as being at risk follow the children when they move local authority areas, rather than staying with the local authority Social Work Department that created the files.

Jim Mather: The effective sharing of information is a critical element of the Scottish Government’s "Getting it Right for Every Child" agenda for change. This new approach to children’s services will allow for a single record to be created and jointly owned by all of those agencies with an interest in a particular child. The record will be a subset of all of the data held by these agencies and will be electronically assembled through the eCare Framework. This virtual record will be accessible by any agency that is working with the young person. Access to the record need not be limited by local authority boundaries where it is appropriate for the information to be shared elsewhere.

  Of course, there will still be a need for professionals to work in partnership effectively where they require to share single agency records relating to a young person. The lack of a single mechanism should not act as a barrier preventing professionals from ensuring that information is shared appropriately with their partners whether they be from a different professional background or geographic area.

Digital Technology

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to local concerns that exist in the community of Northbay, Barra, about the decision of Highlands and Islands Enterprise to pursue broadband connection through a Connected Communities initiative rather than an upgrade of the Northbay telephone exchange and specific concerns that the initiative does not have local support.

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why it has been decided that the community of Northbay, Barra, will receive its broadband connection through the Connected Communities initiative and not through the upgrading of the BT exchange and ADSL.

Jim Mather: Connected Communities is led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) who are responsible for all operational matters around its design and delivery. We are aware of some local opposition in Northbay to Connected Communities, but support HIE’s decision to continue with Connected Communities as it represents the quickest means of providing broadband coverage to that area.

  I would also clarify that the alternative to Connected Communities in Northbay would have been for HIE to undertake a supplier-neutral procurement, so this may not necessarily have resulted in the ADSL enablement of the local exchange by BT.

Digital Technology

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Connected Communities will not be able to give residents in the Northbay, Barra, community 100% broadband coverage while an upgraded BT exchange could.

Jim Mather: It is not possible to state firmly that an upgraded BT exchange in Northbay would give 100% coverage. This is because ADSL technology generally has a reach issue whereby those living some distance from the exchange cannot access ADSL services. HIE have indicated that the completed Connected Communities network will give as close to 100% coverage as possible.

Digital Technology

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which communities in Tayside will not be broadband-enabled by the end of 2008.

Jim Mather: Under the government’s broadband reach contract, a service will be delivered to those eligible households and businesses out of reach of broadband who have registered their demand with the government. Deployment will commence this month and should be completed by May 2009. Specific timescales for Tayside will be clarified as the project progresses and notified directly to registrants by the contractor, Avanti Caledonian Broadband Ltd.

Digital Technology

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the broadband reach contract recently awarded to Avanti Communications will include the delivery of an affordable broadband service to households in the Western Isles and, if not, whether there are any plans in place to deliver such a service to those who are currently served by either BT or Connected Communities, who have "out of reach" problems.

Jim Mather: The government’s Broadband Reach contract will not cover any part of the Western Isles. Provision of broadband to out of reach areas in the Western Isles is the responsibility of Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, and will be delivered through the Connected Communities network.

Education

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that East Lothian Council has adequate funding to ensure that subject choice in East Lothian secondary schools is not reduced.

Adam Ingram: The settlement for each local authority provides a single budget within which authorities can exercise flexibility to reach decisions on how to achieve agreed outcomes as set out in the concordat between the Scottish Government and local government. This means that local government should have sufficient resources not only to maintain, but also improve front-line services. It is the responsibility of individual schools and local authorities to decide which subjects and qualifications to offer and to match opportunities to the needs of their students and local circumstances.

Enterprise

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support the textiles industry in the Borders.

Jim Mather: Scottish ministers provide a range of support to the textiles industry across Scotland – including in the Borders - through our enterprise agencies, Scottish Development International, local authorities and other local economic development partners and specific support schemes such as Regional Selective Assistance.

  In particular, the textiles team at Scottish Enterprise works closely with the industry on a range of projects aimed at raising industry profile, forging collaborative links in complementary technologies and supporting skills development. In addition, the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service delivers specialist advice to manufacturers, including those the textiles industry on improving their productivity and competitiveness.

  In addition, I have held a number of sessions with sector representatives to map out the assets, aspirations, challenges, constraints and priorities of the textiles industry for a sustainable successful future. This included a Borders specific session with local companies and other stakeholders on 3 June 2008.

Environment

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Centre for Carbon Storage study into potential carbon storage sites will be completed.

Jim Mather: The study, which is being co-ordinated by the Scottish Centre for Carbon Storage, with funding from the Scottish Government and a number of other partners, is due to be completed by the spring of 2009.

Equalities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which meetings have been held between the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning and equalities organisations since May 2007.

Adam Ingram: Since May 2007, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning has met with a range of organisations to promote and improve Scottish education and lifelong learning and the outcomes for our children and young people. Addressing inequalities is, of course, key to fulfilling our aim.

Fisheries

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive by what percentage Scottish fishing capacity has been reduced since 1998.

Richard Lochhead: Between 31 December 1998 and 31 December 2007 (provisional figures), the number of active Scottish based fishing vessels fell from 2,631 to 2,191, a decrease of 17 per cent. The power of Scottish vessels fell from 445,146 kW to 401,402 kW, a decrease of 10 per cent.

  The most important factor affecting the size of the Scottish fleet has been the decommissioning schemes operated in 2001-02 and 2003 which gave grants to vessel owners in the Scottish whitefish fleet to decommission their vessel and surrender their fishing licence. These two schemes, which cost £56 million, removed 165 Scottish vessels from the fleet.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to the UK Government to introduce a pilot scheme similar to the Fresh Talent initiative to address significant shortages of Indian chefs in Scotland.

Linda Fabiani: I am aware of the concerns of the Asian restaurant trade in relation to the new migration system. We intend to explore a range of options with the Home Office which will make it easier for those who are skilled to work here and to remain in Scotland.

Fuel

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many petrol retailers in Scotland (a) are currently in operation and (b) have been closed and sealed since 1990, broken down by (i) oil company sites, (ii) main retailer sites, (iii) supermarket sites, (iv) smaller retailer sites and (v) other unbranded sites.

Jim Mather: There are 956 filling stations in operation in Scotland.

  Information on other matters is available in the Petroleum Review’s Retail Marketing Survey 2008.

Fuel Poverty

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that the data collected for the Home Energy Efficiency Database will assist in efforts towards achieving the Scottish Government’s target of abolishing fuel poverty, so far as reasonably practicable, by 2016.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum is considering how best the target can be achieved, and we expect their recommendations may cover data collection requirements to assist in targeting action and monitoring its impact.

Fuel Poverty

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent the data from the Scottish House Condition Survey will be compatible with that from the Home Energy Efficiency Database and what steps it is taking to ensure that both data sets will assist in delivery of its targets on abolishing fuel poverty.

Stewart Maxwell: The two data sources have different purposes but both provide data which can be used to help alleviate fuel poverty.

  The Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) is a two phase survey - with a social survey interview with the householder followed by a physical survey of the dwelling by a trained building professional. It is a statistically-robust, stratified, random sample designed to provide an estimate of fuel poverty on a national basis annually and at local authority level every three years to a known level of precision.

  The Home Energy Efficiency Database is a central repository for data on energy efficiency measures from a number of sources of varying quality, and as such does not provide the same representative, unbiased data on fuel poverty which the SHCS does. Nonetheless it measures the level of home energy efficiency activity by area (and smaller areas than the SHCS) and is a very rich data source.

Justice

Shirley-Anne Somerville (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many convictions there have been against retailers for selling knives to underage customers in each of the last five years broken down by (a) police board and (b) local authority area.

Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following tables.

  Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts for Selling Knives to Underage Persons1 by Police Force Area, 2002-03 to 2006-07

  

 
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Dumfries and Galloway
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -


 Strathclyde 
 1
 1
 -
 -
 -


 Tayside 
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -


 Scotland
 1
 2
 -
 1
 -



  Note: 1. Where main offence. Includes offences under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 section 141A.

  Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts for Selling Knives to Underage Persons1 by Approximate Local Authority Area, 2002-03 to 2006-07

  

 
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Angus 
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -


 Dumfries and Galloway
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -


 East Ayrshire 
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Renfrewshire 
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence. Includes offences under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 section 141A.

  2. Incorporates an approximate mapping of sheriff courts into local authority areas. Some sheriff courts will deal with cases from more than one local authority area.

Justice

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) under 10, (b) 10 to 17, (c) 18 to 20 and (d) 21 and over were sentenced to immediate custody for (i) violent and (ii) non-violent crimes in each of the last five years.

Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following table.

  Persons Convicted in Scottish Courts given Custodial Sentences for Violent and Non-Violent Crimes1, by age, 2002-03 to 2006-07

  

 Crime Type/Age
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Crimes of violence
 1,291
 1,340
 1,242
 1,207
 1,243


 Under 10
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 10-17
 127
 130
 109
 114
 130


 18-20 
 250
 232
 264
 247
 274


 over 21 
 914
 978
 869
 846
 839


 Non-violent crimes
 16,035
 15,244
 15,474
 15,463
 16,914


 Under 10
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 10-17
 834
 656
 651
 748
 899


 18-20 
 2,565
 2,419
 2,201
 2,318
 2,473


 over 21 
 12,636
 12,169
 12,622
 12,397
 13,542


 Total2
 17,326
 16,584
 16,717
 16,670
 18,157



  Note:

  1. Where main offence. Crime and offences have been grouped together using the standard Scottish Government classification. Details of this classification system are available here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/06/02124526/50.

  2. May contain a small number where age is unknown.

Justice

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were (a) arrested, (b) charged, (c) prosecuted and (d) convicted in cases involving (i) rape, (ii) attempted rape and (iii) indecent assault in each year from 1998 to 2007, broken down by police force area.

Fergus Ewing: The recorded crime data held centrally has the number of crimes recorded by the police and the number recorded as detected (that is, there is sufficient evidence to justify consideration of criminal proceedings). We cannot provide any information on the number of people involved in crimes, since it is possible that individuals may be responsible for more than one of the crimes recorded. The available information is shown in the following tables.

  Recorded Cases of Rape in Scotland 1998-99 to 2006-07

  

 Rape
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Central 
 19
 4
 17
 37
 50
 51
 45
 62
 80


 Dumfries and Galloway
 27
 39
 16
 20
 16
 26
 20
 29
 21


 Fife
 30
 43
 46
 52
 73
 78
 83
 88
 75


 Grampian
 68
 86
 55
 52
 74
 82
 70
 109
 96


 Lothian and Borders
 146
 91
 130
 138
 173
 181
 240
 220
 203


 Northern
 23
 38
 14
 29
 30
 53
 54
 46
 62


 Strathclyde
 220
 222
 213
 243
 244
 315
 325
 331
 327


 Tayside
 74
 63
 58
 60
 83
 59
 63
 90
 58


 Scotland
 607
 586
 549
 631
 743
 845
 900
 975
 922



  Recorded Cases of Assault with Intent to Ravish in Scotland 1998-99 to 2006-07

  

 
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Central
 9
 4
 6
 9
 9
 8
 11
 8
 14


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 3
 1
 3
 1
 3
 2
 3
 0


 Fife
 8
 18
 7
 15
 12
 17
 19
 13
 17


 Grampian
 32
 15
 17
 10
 13
 18
 16
 17
 15


 Lothian and Borders
 37
 25
 33
 33
 46
 28
 49
 41
 54


 Northern
 13
 11
 7
 5
 7
 6
 11
 10
 10


 Strathclyde
 74
 79
 61
 69
 81
 93
 91
 78
 81


 Tayside
 17
 14
 9
 13
 12
 19
 10
 16
 10


 Scotland
 190
 169
 141
 157
 181
 192
 209
 186
 201



  Recorded Cases of Indecent Assault in Scotland 1998-99 to 2006-07

  

 Indecent Assault
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Central 
 61
 28
 49
 67
 76
 69
 72
 99
 119


 Dumfries and Galloway
 35
 23
 20
 6
 9
 26
 17
 13
 26


 Fife
 54
 48
 46
 111
 135
 133
 143
 120
 124


 Grampian
 135
 134
 109
 178
 159
 141
 167
 174
 182


 Lothian and Borders
 352
 284
 233
 262
 321
 300
 305
 275
 319


 Northern
 52
 46
 40
 48
 48
 73
 62
 69
 105


 Strathclyde
 551
 464
 451
 491
 517
 585
 626
 630
 664


 Tayside
 108
 112
 86
 86
 89
 109
 105
 128
 125


 Scotland
 1,348
 1,139
 1,034
 1,249
 1,354
 1,436
 1,497
 1,508
 1,664



  Cleared Up Cases of Rape in Scotland 1998-99 to 2006-07

  

 Rape
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Central 
 19
 4
 17
 37
 49
 51
 42
 61
 80


 Dumfries and Galloway
 26
 36
 15
 20
 13
 15
 13
 25
 9


 Fife
 29
 34
 43
 46
 66
 71
 66
 79
 71


 Grampian
 49
 61
 35
 36
 23
 34
 29
 58
 48


 Lothian and Borders
 111
 71
 89
 109
 138
 132
 154
 138
 105


 Northern
 22
 37
 10
 22
 28
 45
 46
 31
 44


 Strathclyde
 153
 162
 173
 175
 174
 219
 217
 219
 207


 Tayside
 70
 64
 73
 51
 97
 75
 58
 93
 63


 Scotland
 479
 469
 455
 496
 588
 642
 625
 704
 627



  Cleared up Cases of Assault with Intent to Ravish in Scotland 1998-99 to 2006-07

  

 
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Central 
 8
 5
 6
 9
 9
 7
 11
 8
 13


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 3
 1
 3
 1
 0
 1
 3
 0


 Fife
 8
 17
 6
 14
 11
 15
 17
 10
 13


 Grampian
 26
 8
 8
 7
 10
 11
 8
 13
 14


 Lothian and Borders
 20
 9
 16
 25
 34
 19
 26
 27
 22


 Northern
 12
 10
 6
 5
 5
 4
 7
 8
 9


 Strathclyde
 59
 52
 47
 45
 54
 62
 58
 46
 43


 Tayside
 16
 11
 9
 10
 13
 19
 10
 15
 12


 Scotland
 149
 115
 99
 118
 137
 137
 138
 130
 126



  Cleared up Cases of Indecent Assault in Scotland 1998-99 to 2006-07

  

 Indecent Assault
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Central 
 56
 25
 45
 62
 69
 63
 67
 95
 107


 Dumfries and Galloway
 30
 19
 16
 4
 5
 22
 12
 14
 15


 Fife
 42
 37
 31
 75
 93
 99
 106
 98
 106


 Grampian
 93
 70
 56
 87
 69
 62
 88
 87
 92


 Lothian and Borders
 233
 150
 132
 164
 203
 146
 178
 155
 143


 Northern
 45
 37
 33
 41
 38
 66
 39
 51
 74


 Strathclyde
 333
 244
 269
 262
 308
 333
 345
 330
 334


 Tayside
 88
 95
 68
 78
 62
 104
 84
 110
 107


 Scotland
 920
 677
 650
 773
 847
 895
 919
 940
 978



  The available information on prosecutions and convictions, by police force, is given in the following tables.

  Persons Prosecuted in Scottish Courts for Rape1 1998-99 to 2006-07

  

 Rape
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Central 
 3
 10
 3
 1
 4
 1
 8
 10
 5


 Dumfries and Galloway
 -
 3
 2
 2
 1
 2
 3
 3
 4


 Fife 
 16
 5
 2
 8
 7
 3
 11
 12
 8


 Grampian 
 9
 6
 2
 4
 4
 5
 6
 3
 7


 Lothian and Borders 
 14
 13
 14
 19
 15
 19
 21
 13
 14


 Northern 
 1
 3
 -
 3
 5
 3
 8
 6
 2


 Strathclyde 
 18
 13
 24
 24
 20
 35
 30
 36
 24


 Tayside 
 5
 2
 5
 7
 4
 12
 7
 8
 1


 Scotland2
 66
 55
 52
 68
 60
 81
 94
 91
 65



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. May contain a small number where police force is unknown.

  Persons Prosecuted in Scottish Courts for Attempted Rape1 1998-99 to 2006-07

  

 Assault with Intent to Ravish
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Central 
 1
 2
 1
 2
 2
 2
 2
 1
 -


 Dumfries and Galloway
 -
 1
 -
 -
 1
 -
 2
 -
 1


 Fife 
 1
 6
 4
 5
 2
 1
 2
 2
 1


 Grampian 
 2
 3
 -
 2
 3
 1
 4
 -
 4


 Lothian and Borders 
 2
 5
 5
 7
 3
 5
 3
 4
 5


 Northern 
 2
 1
 1
 -
 -
 1
 3
 2
 3


 Strathclyde 
 15
 7
 14
 11
 6
 16
 6
 12
 12


 Tayside 
 7
 6
 3
 4
 4
 3
 4
 4
 1


 Scotland2
 30
 31
 29
 31
 21
 29
 26
 25
 27



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. May contain a small number where police force is unknown.

  Persons Prosecuted in Scottish Courts for Indecent Assault1 1998-99 to 2006-07

  

 Indecent Assault
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Central 
 5
 5
 3
 2
 2
 6
 7
 7
 5


 Dumfries and Galloway
 1
 2
 4
 1
 1
 5
 1
 6
 5


 Fife 
 5
 10
 7
 8
 8
 7
 5
 6
 2


 Grampian 
 16
 11
 6
 3
 4
 5
 7
 3
 5


 Lothian and Borders 
 22
 17
 16
 8
 23
 23
 30
 35
 23


 Northern 
 7
 9
 4
 12
 6
 10
 5
 7
 8


 Strathclyde 
 42
 44
 33
 24
 26
 53
 59
 38
 45


 Tayside 
 10
 7
 18
 8
 9
 7
 8
 12
 21


 Scotland2
 108
 105
 92
 66
 79
 116
 123
 114
 114



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. May contain a small number where police force is unknown.

  Persons with a Charge Proved for Rape1 1998-99 to 2006-07

  

 Rape
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Central 
 3
 2
 1
 -
 2
 1
 1
 4
 3


 Dumfries and Galloway
 -
 1
 2
 1
 1
 -
 -
 1
 -


 Fife 
 10
 1
 1
 5
 5
 2
 10
 5
 1


 Grampian 
 5
 5
 1
 2
 2
 2
 3
 1
 6


 Lothian and Borders 
 5
 7
 9
 12
 8
 9
 11
 3
 7


 Northern 
 1
 3
 -
 3
 4
 2
 3
 4
 1


 Strathclyde 
 12
 8
 11
 20
 15
 17
 15
 20
 9


 Tayside 
 1
 -
 3
 3
 2
 6
 3
 3
 -


 Scotland2
 37
 27
 28
 46
 39
 39
 46
 41
 27



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. May contain a small number where police force is unknown.

  Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts for Attempted Rape1 1998-99 to 2006-07

  

 Assault with Intent to Ravish
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Central 
 -
 -
 1
 -
 2
 1
 1
 1
 -


 Dumfries and Galloway
 -
 1
 -
 -
 1
 -
 2
 -
 -


 Fife 
 -
 3
 4
 2
 1
 1
 2
 1
 -


 Grampian 
 -
 2
 -
 1
 1
 1
 3
 -
 1


 Lothian and Borders 
 1
 5
 4
 7
 2
 3
 3
 3
 4


 Northern 
 1
 1
 -
 -
 -
 1
 3
 2
 3


 Strathclyde 
 12
 5
 11
 10
 6
 10
 6
 10
 9


 Tayside 
 7
 4
 3
 1
 3
 2
 3
 3
 1


 Scotland2
 21
 21
 24
 21
 16
 19
 23
 20
 18



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. May contain a small number where police force is unknown.

  Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts for Indecent Assault1 1998-99 to 2006-07

  

 Indecent Assault
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Central 
 2
 5
 2
 2
 2
 5
 7
 6
 4


 Dumfries and Galloway
 -
 1
 1
 1
 -
 4
 1
 4
 4


 Fife 
 4
 9
 5
 7
 8
 7
 1
 4
 2


 Grampian 
 15
 9
 4
 3
 4
 5
 3
 3
 4


 Lothian and Borders 
 20
 13
 11
 6
 17
 17
 21
 30
 17


 Northern 
 6
 9
 4
 9
 5
 8
 4
 4
 7


 Strathclyde 
 30
 34
 26
 16
 21
 43
 45
 25
 27


 Tayside 
 6
 4
 6
 4
 8
 4
 4
 8
 17


 Scotland2
 83
 84
 60
 48
 65
 93
 87
 84
 82



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. May contain a small number where police force is unknown.

Land Register

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether copies of energy performance certificates will be available from the Land Registry and what its position is on the matter.

Jim Mather: Copies of Energy Performance Certificates will not be available from Registers of Scotland, which is responsible for maintaining and administering the Land Register. The EU Directive that introduced Energy Performance Certificates does not require registration of that Certificate in the Land Register. The Land Register is a map-based register of title to land that contains information on ownership of land and related property rights and title conditions affecting the land. An Energy Performance Certificate does not affect the ownership of, or other legal rights, in the property to which it relates.

Livestock

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to develop the beef, lamb, pig and poultry sectors.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is committed to the long-term viability of the livestock sector. Support may be available through the Single Farm Payment, Less Favoured Area Support Scheme and the Scotland Rural Development Programme.

  In view of the particular difficulties facing the pig sector, the government has been working closely with the sector for some time. Support has been provided through, for example, a £30,000 strategic review of the sector and a £300,000 added value project for the red meat sector. Discussions across the supply chain have been encouraged and facilitated. I also established a Pig Sector Task Force to consider further actions and I am currently looking at its final report.

  I am hopeful the forthcoming Common Agricultural policy (CAP) Health Check may give us greater flexibility to address the sustainability of cattle and sheep production within our more fragile areas.

Local Authorities

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many civic amenity sites there are in each local authority area.

Richard Lochhead: The information requested is provided in the following table.

  Number of Recycling Centres (previously known as Civil Amenity Sites)

  

 Local Authority
 


 Aberdeen
 4


 Aberdeenshire
 16


 Angus
 8


 Argyll and Bute
 13


 Clackmannanshire
 1


 Dumfries and Galloway
 11


 Dundee
 3


 East Ayrshire
 2


 East Dunbartonshire
 1


 East Lothian
 4


 East Renfrewshire
 2


 Edinburgh
 4


 Falkirk
 2


 Fife
 11


 Glasgow
 4


 Highland
 23


 Inverclyde
 2


 Midlothian
 2


 Moray
 9


 North Ayrshire
 6


 North Lanarkshire
 6


 Orkney
 4


 Perth and Kinross
 8


 Renfrewshire
 6


 Scottish Borders
 6


 Shetland
 1


 South Ayrshire
 5


 South Lanarkshire
 6


 Stirling
 3


 West Dunbartonshire
 3


 West Lothian
 6


 Western Isles
 3


 Total
 185



  This information was obtained from the website www.sort-it.org.uk.

Local Government

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive to whom, in its private form, the Scottish Futures Trust will be accountable.

John Swinney: Within Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust (Bib number 45605), it is made clear that the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) will not alter the lines of statutory responsibility and accountability which apply across the public sector. SFT will itself be accountable through ministers, including any financial interest it may have in a private sector off-shoot.

Local Government

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the evidence used to conclude that savings within a range of 3% to 5% could accrue from its proposals, as set out on page 14 of Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust , and whether it considers that such savings are achievable only by the particular methods envisaged in the document.

John Swinney: Page 42 of Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust (Bib. number 45605) sets out how the savings within a range of 3% to 5% could accrue from the setting up of the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT). It will be for the SFT company itself to consider, working in conjunction with the public sector, whether there are other methods by which such savings may be achieved.

Local Government

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Futures Trust is an initiative or a fund.

John Swinney: As stated in Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust (Bib. number 45605), the Scottish Futures Trust is an initiative covering a range of activities designed to support the efficiency and effectiveness of public infrastructure procurement leading to real and improved value for money solutions.

Local Government

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what is meant on page 11 of Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust by "This concept in outline suggests provision of assets is facilitated via a sponsor entity which is an organisation with a genuine reason for alternative residual use of the assets created on its behalf and is itself a private sector classified body, e.g. provision of schools accommodation by a university or hospital accommodation by a medical faculty"; whether it is confident that this concept can be brought to fruition and, if so, within what timescale.

John Swinney: The concept mentioned at page 11 of Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust (Bib. number 45605) was the result of a preliminary investigation in attempting to enhance infrastructure investment. The detail and full impact of the concept will be further explored by the Scottish Futures Trust in conjunction with public and market interests and further details will be set out in due course.

Local Government

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what advantages it considers will be derived from a private sector classified body which has a public sector ethos, as set out on page 13 of Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust.

John Swinney: The explanation for the proposed form of the Scottish Futures Trust company is set out in Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust (Bib. number 45605).

Local Government

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that the Scottish Futures Trust as envisaged and set out on page 13 of Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust will be a private sector classified body.

John Swinney: The intended classification of the two arms of the Scottish Futures Trust are made clear on page 13 of Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust (Bib. number 45605).

Local Government

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the term "advisory community" on page 14 of Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust refers to consultants.

John Swinney: The term "advisory community" is used in Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust (Bib. number 45605) to mean all types of advisors that would be able to provide the expertise the SFT company may require periodically. This would include consultants.

Meat Industry

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support Scotland’s meat processing sector.

Richard Lochhead: The development of the sector is a commercial matter for individual businesses. However, support of £60 million is available over six years (2008-13) to businesses in the agriculture processing industry – including the meat sector - through the Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation Grant Scheme. The scheme is part of the Scotland Rural Development Programme.

  In addition, the Scottish Government is providing £300,000 to Quality Meat Scotland for a project aimed at adding value to red meat carcases. It is thought this market could generate an extra £3 million a year for the industry.

Meat Industry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much Quality Meat Scotland has received of the £1 million allocated to it in October 2007 under the foot-and-mouth disease aid package.

Richard Lochhead: The £1 million announced in October last year was to help promote long term resilience in the red meat sector. Of this, £330,000 has been allocated to Quality Meat Scotland to fund a strategic review of the pig sector and a project aimed at adding value to the carcases of cattle, sheep and pigs.

Meat Industry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that Quality Meat Scotland receives the full amount allocated to it under the foot-and-mouth disease aid package as soon as possible.

Richard Lochhead: The £1 million awarded to the industry in October 2007 as part of the foot-and-mouth disease package was to help promote the long-term resilience of the red meat sector. £330,000 has already been allocated to Quality Meat Scotland. We will work with the industry to determine how best to use the remainder of the funding and will consider any proposals that come forward.

Ministerial Code

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the criteria on which the First Minister will refer any allegations of breach of the ministerial code to the independent advisers.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will apply to the referral of allegations of breach of the ministerial code to the independent advisers by the First Minister.

Bruce Crawford: As the First Minister said in Parliament on 18 June, matters referred to the independent advisers will be matters of substance and import, and will not include matters which have already been resolved, or on which ministers have previously made a statement or apology, or cases in which allegations are unsubstantiated.

NHS Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many consultant vacancies there were in NHS Lanarkshire in each of the last 12 quarters.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on staff within NHSScotland is held by ISD who collect a variety of information on staff in post across all NHS staff groups, including vacancy information. This data is published online by ISD as at 30 September each year.

  While vacancy information for consultant posts is not available for the last 12 quarters, over the last three years, the equivalent period available, the published headcount consultant vacancy rate within NHS Lanarkshire was as follows:

  Number of Consultant Vacancies, NHS Lanarkshire (as at 30 September that year)

  

 Year
 


 2007
 59


 2006
 42


 2005
 49

Police

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to police forces in Scotland on the maximum area that should be covered by a single community police officer.

Fergus Ewing: None. Operational policing matters are the responsibility of individual chief constables.

Recycling

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is planned to encourage individual householders to reduce waste and increase recycling.

Richard Lochhead: At a local level local authorities are primarily responsible for delivering campaigns to encourage recycling and waste reduction.

  On a national level the Scottish Government provides funding to the Waste Aware Scotland programme as part of our commitment to a Greener Scotland. This national programme encourages the people of Scotland to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle their household waste. Further information about what is being done at a national and local level can be found at:

  http://www.wasteawarescotland.org.uk/.

  The Scottish Government is fully committed to high levels of recycling and waste prevention. To help achieve this I announced in my parliamentary statement on waste policy earlier this year that the Scottish Government will be preparing a new National Waste Management Plan for Scotland. This plan will be prepared in consultation with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and other key stakeholders. We will be consulting widely on future waste policy initiatives as we develop the plan.

Recycling

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any reports have been commissioned or consultation undertaken on how to improve recycling rates by individual householders.

Richard Lochhead: Yes.

  In November 2003, the then Scottish Executive published a report by AEA Technology on Incentives for Householders to Change their Waste Practices. This is available on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2003/11/18568/29504.

  Waste Aware Scotland have published guidance on effective campaigning at local level to promote reduce, re-using and recycling waste. This guidance can be found at:

  http://www.wasteawarescotland.org.uk/html/guidance.asp.

  Waste Aware Scotland are also producing a Recycling Advisers Report that will be published soon.

  Remade Scotland have prepared two Best Practice Reports on the collection of recyclate from the kerbside. One has been published and is available on their website while the second report is due to be published soon.

  http://www.remade.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=318.

Recycling

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how individual householders can be incentivised to recycle more and how this can be monitored.

Richard Lochhead: The Waste Aware Scotland (WAS) brand, marketed by the Scottish Waste Awareness Group (SWAG) aims to make the reduce, reuse, recycle message easy for householders to follow through attractive, simple, consistent messages and advice. It also provides essential information about local recycling services through the on-line "sort-it" tool. Levels of household recycling are monitored by local authorities and the WAS programme itself is evaluated by SWAG through periodic national surveys of public attitudes to the reduce, reuse, recycle message.

Research

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding for research conducted in tertiary education is distributed and calculated.

Adam Ingram: The vast majority of Scottish Government funding for research (including knowledge transfer) in tertiary education is distributed and calculated by the Scottish Funding Council. The details of how this funding is distributed and calculated are set out in the Funding Council’s Circular SFC/10/2008 issued on 20 March "Main grants in support of teaching and research for higher education institutions for academic year 2008-09" available here:

  http://www.sfc.ac.uk/information/info_circulars/sfc/2008/sfc1008/sfc1008.html.

  Research-related funding for Scottish institutions also comes from a number of other sources in the public, private and third sectors. For example, the seven UK Research Councils fund research in higher education institutions (HEIs). Some Scottish Government Directorates also fund research directly, a small proportion of which ends up in HEIs.

Research

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much research-related funding was provided to universities and colleges, broken down by institution, in each of the last three years.

Adam Ingram: The following table present details of research-related (including knowledge transfer) funding provided or channelled via the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to universities and colleges over the last three years. This mainly supports infrastructure and capacity building.

  Research-related funding for Scottish institutions also comes from a number of other sources in the public, private and third sectors. For example, the seven UK Research Councils fund research in higher education institutions (HEIs). Research Council funding is not included in the table. Some Scottish Government Directorates also fund research directly, a small proportion of which ends up in HEIs. Not all of these figures are held centrally and they are therefore also not included in the table.

  

 Institution
Total Grants for Research 2005-06
Total Grants for Research 2006-07
Total Grants for Research 2007-08


 Aberdeen, University of
 15,218,714
 21,742,872
 24,008,926


 Abertay, Dundee, University of
 1,141,000
 1,394,277
 1,266,380


 Bell College
 137,000
 167,000
 130,000


 Dundee, University of
 17,622,433
 21,190,318
 26,446,462


 Edinburgh College of Art
 1,183,583
 1,235,402
 1,229,361


 Edinburgh, University of
 55,970,379
 69,598,835
 97,887,429


 Glasgow Caledonian University
 3,599,748
 3,889,537
 4,183,200


 Glasgow School of Art
 1,569,638
 1,711,305
 1,745,068


 Glasgow, University of
 42,860,217
 49,970,786
 55,252,327


 Heriot-Watt University
 11,001,684
 12,755,383
 14,319,765


 Napier University
 3,137,962
 3,546,599
 3,423,992


 Open University in Scotland
 
 38,000
 22,000


 Paisley, University of
 1,064,690
 1,263,820
 1,243,736


 Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
 1,399,960
 1,486,006
 1,482,026


 Robert Gordon University
 2,097,102
 2,356,287
 2,493,450


 Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
 108,000
 127,220
 122,361


 St Andrews, University of
 15,708,259
 19,441,764
 19,293,215


 Stirling, University of
 9,498,109
 10,484,338
 10,791,627


 Strathclyde, University of
 21,422,321
 24,203,212
 27,158,383


 UHI Millennium Institute
 1,551,451
 3,055,388
 2,546,358


 Aberdeen College
 
 
 44,750


 Adam Smith College
 
 
 44,750


 Angus College
 
 
 44,750


 Anniesland College
 
 
 44,750


 Ayr College
 
 
 44,750


 Banff & Buchan College
 
 
 44,750


 Barony College
 
 
 30,000


 Borders College
 
 
 30,000


 Cardonald College
 
 
 44,750


 Central College of Commerce
 
 
 44,750


 Clydebank College
 
 
 44,750


 Coatbridge College
 
 
 30,000


 Cumbernauld College
 
 
 44,750


 Dumfries & Galloway College
 
 
 30,000


 Dundee College
 
 
 44,750


 Edinburgh Telford College
 
 
 59,500


 Elmwood College
 
 
 44,750


 Forth Valley College
 
 
 44,750


 Glasgow Metropolitan
 
 
 44,750


 Glasgow College of Nautical Studies
 
 
 59,500


 Inverness College
 
 
 44,750


 James Watt College
 
 
 44,750


 Jewel & Esk Valley College
 
 
 44,750


 John Wheatley College
 
 
 30,000


 Kilmarnock College
 
 
 30,000


 Langside College
 
 
 44,750


 Lauder College
 
 
 59,500


 Lews Castle College
 
 
 44,750


 Moray College
 
 
 44,750


 Motherwell College
 
 
 44,750


 Newbattle Abbey College
 
 
 30,000


 North Glasgow College
 
 
 44,750


 Oatridge College
 
 
 30,000


 Perth College
 
 
 59,500


 Reid Kerr College
 
 
 59,500


 South Lanarkshire College
 
 
 44,750


 Stevenson College
 
 
 59,500


 Stow College
 
 
 30,000


 North Highland College
 
 
 44,750


 Orkney College
 
 
 30,000


 Shetland College
 
 
 30,000


 Sabal Mor Ostaig
 
 
 44,750


 West Lothian College
 
 
 44,750


 Total
 206,292,250
 249,658,349
 296,851,816

Rural Development

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many farmers and crofters have submitted statements of intent (SoIs) to make applications for funding under the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) in the last year, broken down by SGRPID office area, and how many of the applications have so far received red light and amber light responses.

Richard Lochhead: We are not able to identify the number of applicants to the Rural Development Contracts – Rural Priorities element of the SRDP who are farmers or crofters. The scheme is also open to a range of other land managers, rural businesses and community groups.

  As at 30 June, 1,026 SoIs had been submitted, of which 232 had been awarded an amber rating and 258 awarded a red rating.

  Applications can be submitted to any of the local offices of SGRPID, Scottish Natural Heritage or the Forestry Commission in Scotland. These cases are allocated to one of 11 Regions. The regional boundaries are shown on the SRDP website.

  The breakdown of applications submitted by region is as follows:

  Northern Isles – 64

  Highland – 143

  Grampian – 368

  Outer Hebrides – 31

  Tayside – 94

  Forth – 78

  Borders – 137

  Ayrshire – 43

  Clyde Valley – 19

  Argyll – 47

  Dumfries and Galloway – 96.

Rural Development

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether farmers and crofters who have submitted statements of intent to make applications for funding under the Scottish Rural Development Programme in the last year, and received a red light response, are provided with (a) detailed reasons for such a response, (b) guidelines that they can follow to submit amended statements and (c) encouragement to submit amended statements.

Richard Lochhead: All applicants (farmers, crofter, foresters, other land managers, rural businesses or rural community groups) who submit a Statement of Intent to the Rural Development Contracts – Rural Priorities element of the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) will receive feedback from their allocated Case officer. This feedback will include a red or amber rating and, where the rating is red, the reasons for awarding a red rating. These reasons will normally relate to the elements of the submitted Statement of Intent which do not accord with the published guidance.

  The guidelines for submitting amended Statements of Intent are provided in the published guidance. Where there are straightforward aspects that need to be changed or added, Case officers will include this in the feedback, or they may direct applicants back to the relevant areas of the guidance for more detailed clarification of the requirements.

  Rural Priorities is a competitive fund which is designed to deliver specific economic, environmental and social benefits for the people of Scotland. Applicants are given feedback on how well their proposed project fits with the agreed priorities for their area, on any potential negative impacts of the project and on the availability of funding.

  A red rating is an alert, indicating that more work is needed to improve an applicant’s likelihood of success. This alert also prevents applicants from the unnecessary expense and effort of drawing up plans that are unlikely to be funded.

  Where applicants are willing and able to undertake such work as required to deal with the issues highlighted in the case officer’s feedback, they are welcome to amend and resubmit their SoI as often as they wish. However, given the work involved, and the fact that funding cannot be guaranteed at this stage, it must be for the applicant to decide, on the basis of the feedback received, whether they wish to do so.

Scottish Enterprise

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average number of individuals employed by Scottish Enterprise was in 2007-08.

Jim Mather: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask its chief executive to write to you in this regard.

Student Finance

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13916 by Fiona Hyslop on 16 June 2008, whether the SAAS - Loans to Grants efficiency savings of £40 million will provide £40 million of additional funding to be spent by the government or whether £30 million of this is a reduction in the Student Loans New Lending budget line which is annual managed expenditure met in full by HM Treasury.

Adam Ingram: The £40 million efficiency savings are a result of a £30 million reduction in the Student Loans New Lending budget line, which is one of the Annually Managed Expenditure elements of the SAAS baseline. This reduction in the amount of loans advanced also generates a £10 million saving in the costs associated with not providing student loans which is within the Departmental Expenditure Limit allocation for SAAS.

Student Finance

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13913 by Fiona Hyslop on 17 June 2008, whether income thresholds for bursaries, loans and grants will continue to be uprated on an annual basis with the underlying rate of inflation given the planned SAAS Eligibility efficiency savings of over £12 million.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government has in the past raised the income thresholds for loans, bursaries and grants on an annual basis in line with the underlying rate of inflation (RPIX). We have no plans to move away from this practice and indeed the planned efficiency savings assume that thresholds for bursaries, loans and grants will continue to be uprated in this way each year.

Student Finance

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13911 by Fiona Hyslop on 16 June 2008, how many students will receive full financial support over the next three years if income thresholds are held static, as per the SAAS Eligibility efficiency savings, and earnings rise at the 2006-07 average rate of 3.1%.

Adam Ingram: The following table shows the number of students receiving full support from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) in academic years 2006-07 to 2009-10 based on the assumption that income thresholds remain static (at their 2006-07 levels) and that earnings increase by 3.1% every year.

  Number of Students Receiving Full Support

  

 Academic Year
 


 2006-07
 35,310


 2007-08
 34,815


 2008-09
 34,220


 2009-10
 33,680



  Source: Students receiving support 2006-2007: Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).

  Note: Student numbers are rounded to the nearest five.

  Students receiving full support have been defined as those who are:

  1. Receiving the maximum Young Student Bursary or

  2. The maximum Young Student Outside Scotland Bursary or

  3. The maximum Students Outside Scotland Bursary or

  4. Aged 25 or over and are receiving maximum maintenance loan or

  5. Aged less than 25, are exempt from parental or spousal contributions to their support and are receiving maximum maintenance loan.

  Nursing and Midwifery Bursary Scheme students are not included in the numbers receiving support from SAAS. Academic year 2006-07 is the latest for which data from SAAS is available.

  In the response to your written question S3W-13913 on 17 June 2008 it was highlighted that the income thresholds for bursaries, loans and additional grants from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) are up rated on an annual basis based on the underlying rate of inflation (the Retail Price Index excluding Mortgage Interest Payments or RPIX). As set out in the answer to S3W-14480 on 17 July 2008, we currently have no plans to stop using this method to uprate the threshold on a yearly basis.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Waste Management

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce site waste management plans in Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: We are currently promoting site waste management plans on a voluntary basis. Paragraph 51 of Scottish Planning Policy 10 on Planning for Waste Management supports the use of Site Waste Management Plans http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/08/28161910/9 Envirowise Scotland, funded by the Scottish Government, can provide advice on Site Waste Management Plans http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/scotland .

  We are also considering consulting on possible waste provisions that might be included in the forthcoming Scottish Climate Change Bill. This may include proposals to require bodies to produce waste management plans including Site Waste Management Plans.

Waste Management

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for year-on-year reduction of waste from local authority buildings.

Richard Lochhead: The previous Scottish Executive provided resources to local authorities to carry out audits of their own waste and to draw up plans to minimise the amount of waste produced. However, there are no specific targets laid down by government for waste reduction from local authority buildings. We will consider this matter further in the review of the National Waste Plan and in our work on the Leading By Example programme, established under the Greener Scotland objective to improve public sector environmental performance. In line with the concordat, we will work closely with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and local authorities when taking forward work in this area.

Waste Management

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for year-on-year reduction of waste by non-departmental public bodies.

Richard Lochhead: There are no specific targets laid down by government on reducing the waste produced by non-departmental public bodies. We will consider this matter further in the review of the National Waste Plan and in our work on the Leading By Example programme, established under the Greener Scotland objective to improve public sector environmental performance.

Waste Management

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with supermarkets about reducing the packaging on their individually branded products.

Richard Lochhead: I have met retailers recently on a number of occasions. On packaging, the Scottish Government supports work by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) under the Courtauld Commitment. Under the Courtauld Commitment, retailers are committed to supporting WRAP in designing out packaging waste growth by 2008; delivering absolute reductions in packaging waste by 2010 and identifying ways of tackling the problem of food waste. More information on the Courtauld Commitment can be found at:

  http://www.wrap.org.uk/retail/courtauld_commitment/index.html.

  The first results of the impact of the commitment are due to be announced shortly.